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House Education panel advances 'What Is Your Pennsylvania Story?' guidelines
Summary
The House Education Committee unanimously reported House Bill 354, which would direct the Department of Education to develop voluntary guidelines for a program called “What Is Your Pennsylvania Story?” to be available in the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years; implementation would be optional for school entities and require parental notice.
House Bill 354, which would require the Department of Education to develop guidelines for a program titled “What Is Your Pennsylvania Story?,” was reported out of the House Education Committee by a unanimous roll call vote, committee members said.
The bill would direct the department to create implementation guidelines for school districts, intermediate units, area career and technical schools, charter and cyber charter schools, regional charter schools and nonpublic schools. The program would be offered in the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years, and any school entity that implements it would be required to notify parents or guardians.
Representative Alicia (staff) explained the bill’s provisions to the committee, saying it “requires the Department of Education to develop guidelines for a new program entitled, What is your Pennsylvania Story? ... The program will take place during the 25, 26, and 26, 27 school years. If implemented, the school entity is required to provide notice to all parents or guardians of the program.”
Representative Gleim, who worked with sponsor Representative Solomon on drafting the bill last session, told the committee the proposal was prepared in anticipation of the nation’s 250th anniversary and intended to help students learn and reflect on Pennsylvania’s role in U.S. history. “We worked together on this bill last session and it was drafted in anticipation of the 200 and fiftieth anniversary of the United States,” Gleim said, adding the measure had received bipartisan support in the prior session.
A motion to consider the bill was made by Representative Isaacson and seconded by Representative Friel. The committee took a roll-call vote; the chair announced “the yeas are 26, the nays are 0.” House Bill 354 was reported and will be referred to the next appropriate stage in the legislative process.
The committee record shows the bill is sponsor-led by Representative Solomon; the bill creates guidance and an optional program but does not appropriate funding.
